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The Final Say

Debra Jarvis

This is the podcast where you can get comfortable talking about death and learn some things about life from people who are facing death.

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 22 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • S3 · E4
    Oct 30, 2025 · 27 min

    Mattering

    Facing her own death, Jan says that the most important thing to her is that she mattered. In spite of "dancing" with cancer for 36 years, Jan spent years of service to the world and her story is filled with synchronicity and trusting your intuition.

  • S3 · E1
    Apr 26, 2025 · 24 min

    Speaking In Tongues

    What does an excellent preacher do when he loses his ability to speak clearly? Find a translator who not only understands your words, but also understands your heart. For Rev. Randall Mullins, that person was his wife Sharon Pavelda.

  • S3 · E4
    Nov 1, 2024 · 26 min

    The Expert Says

    Trudy James was a death and dying expert, a dynamic and articulate speaker and--a close friend of Debra's. She said some surprising things about facing her own death and some provocative things about facing life.

  • S3 · E3
    Jul 13, 2024 · 30 min

    Bullet Train

    All of us are on a train ride to death. Some of us are on the milk run which makes the trip pretty long. Some of us are on an express run which shortens things a bit. And then there are those of us, like Julie Davis, who found herself on a bullet train. Here's how she's handling the ride.

  • S3 · E2
    May 23, 2024 · 23 min

    Straight To Jail!

    When he was kid, everyone thought Frank Marchand would go straight to jail as an adult. But things didn't turn out the way everyone expected--or the way Frank expected.

  • S3 · E1
    Mar 16, 2024 · 24 min

    Music In His Heart

    Flamenco guitarist Ben Phipps explains how he finds meaning, purpose and joy in his life; the support of his family and friends and why he chose not to continue chemo for his brain cancer.

  • S2 · E4
    Dec 31, 2023 · 24 min

    Can We Talk About It?

    Even people who work in the field of dying and death have a hard time talking about their own deaths. But Dr. Mark Goulston has found talking about it and being emotionally vulnerable has set him free.

  • S2 · E3
    Oct 24, 2023 · 35 min

    Just Show Up!

    What to say and how to keep meaning and purpose in your life? Here's what matters: Just show up. Bill Gardner has some wise thoughts on those challenges.

  • S2 · E2
    Aug 28, 2023 · 21 min

    There's Love On the Other Side

    Juliana Fodera has died twenty-one times. She tells us how she navigated those trips and we might experience. Her biggest piece of advice? "Stay curious!"

  • S2 · E1
    Apr 7, 2023 · 25 min

    I Get to Choose

    Cheryl Hauser watched her brother struggle with Alzheimer's. When she was diagnosed herself, she made the decision to voluntarily stop eating and drinking (VSED) when she no longer could enjoy life.

  • S1 · E8
    Dec 20, 2022 · 24 min

    I'm Lucky!

    Even though he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 76, Don Mallet felt that he was lucky and grateful to have made it to old age. Glass half empty or half full? Feed the Good Wolf or the Evil Wolf? Don tells us how he does it.

  • S1 · E7
    Oct 1, 2022 · 18 min

    New Joy

    Harlan was shocked to discover that his life-threatening illness brought him more joy than he could have imagined. Here's how he found it.

  • S1 · E6
    Aug 19, 2022 · 23 min

    Death With Dignity and Humor!

    Diane struggled with MSA for four years until she used the Death with Dignity law. She was excited about her "Lift Off" and was well-prepared for soaring out of her body.

  • S1 · E5
    Jun 29, 2022 · 23 min

    Won't You Come Home?

    Bill Bailey tells a story of misunderstood last words; being scared to death and being scared by death. Also, how we can almost guarantee that will people speak kindly about us after we die.

  • S1 · E4
    Jun 10, 2022 · 29 min

    Inhabit Your Life

    Genko Blackman, a Zen Buddhist priest, talks about inhabiting your life and what we can offer people facing death. Also, the Buddhist perspective on dying and death.

  • S1 · E3
    May 22, 2022 · 22 min

    What If I Told You I Was Gay?

    What we experience today might be a memory we recall over and over in days to come. Bob talks about one that is precious to him.

  • S1 · E2
    May 8, 2022 · 17 min

    Live Like You're Dying

    Susan Tower decided to "live like she's dying" since she was. Here's how she did it.

  • S1 · E1
    Apr 12, 2022 · 15 min

    The Final Say on the Final Visit

    Who gets to decide on a final visit? The dying person or the visitor? Hal Pelton made it very clear.

  • S1 · E1
    Apr 11, 2022 · 2 min

    TheFinalSayTrailer

    An introduction to The Final Say: Conversations with People Facing Death. Different views from different people. Talking about facing death can help us understand how to face life!

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes